DULUTH, Minn. – The ninth-ranked St. Scholastica baseball team held regional rival University of St. Thomas in check for much of the game and came away with a 4-2 triumph Monday afternoon at Wade Stadium.
After two quick outs to begin the game, the Tommies hit back-to-back doubles to take a 1-0 lead. The Saints responded in the bottom half with a Kyle Flagstad one-out triple. He then scored on a wild pitch. That was followed by a Joe Link single and a hit batter. The Saints executed a double-steal to put runners at second and third as Link stole his 31st base of the season. That allowed Link to score on a Brandon Peterson sacrifice fly to make it 2-1 after one.
St. Thomas quickly tied the game in the top of the second on a Justin Novak groundout. It remained tied until the bottom of the fourth when with two outs Brian Marshik and Flagstad picked up big hits to the right side to plate two runs and make it 4-2.
Matt Lewis came in relief of starter Kyle Jensen in the top of the fifth and allowed just two hits in five innings of work. The Tommies were able to get runners on third base in both the sixth and seventh innings, but Lewis would get a groundout and strikeout in each situation. Lewis then sat the Tommies down in order in the eighth and ninth to give CSS the 4-2 victory.
In addition to just the two hits allowed, Lewis struck out four and walked just one over five innings to improve to 7-0 on the year. John Licht picked up the loss for the Tommies. Joe Link was 3-for-4 to lead the Saints at the plate.
The Saints improve to 23-4 overall, while the Tommies' seven-game winning streak comes to an end as they fall to 15-14 overall. CSS also defeated St. Thomas in the season-opener, 10-6, on March 6th.
The Saints remain at home on Wednesday when they host Northland College for one, nine-inning game at Wade Stadium. The game is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.